Bill of Sale (Andrews/Way)

On January 19, 1856, in a complicated transaction with several legal documents, an enslaved man named Battice was sold by Ann J. Way and her husband Moses Way, through her trustees, William G. Martin and Lafayette S. Quarterman, to W.E.W. Quarterman for $850. That money was then used by the trustees to purchase from John S. Andrews an enslaved man named Jim, for $880, for the use of Ann and Moses Way. 

First document: 

Cited a deed of trust executed by Elisha Smith, Liberty County, in 1845 and recorded in the Superior Court clerk’s office in Book M. folio 366 & 367, June 18, 1845 by James S. Bradwell, in which “certain property to wit one negro man named Jim a negro woman named Miley and her two children Betty and Abner with the future issue of the females was conveyed by said Smith to John S. Andrews of the said State and County in trust for the benefit of the children of the said Smith to wit Nathaniel, Mary, Sarah, Jennett, and Almara Smith.” This deed of trust was said to have given authority for the sale of said property by John S. Andrews as he thought best for the benefit of Smith’s children. Further cited a deed of trust executed by William E.W. Quarterman, Liberty County, in 1849 and recorded in the Superior Court clerk’s office in Book N. folio 309 on 12 March 1851 by James S. Bradwell, Clerk, in which deed “certain property to wit the following named negro slaves viz Battice, aged twenty five years and others was conveyed by the said W.E.W. Quarterman to William G. Martin and Lafayette S. Quarterman both of said State and County in trust for the sole use and behoof of Ann J. Way and her husband Moses W. Way.” 

These trustees, Wm. G. Martin and Lafayette S. Quarterman, with written consent of Ann J. Way and Moses W. Way, now had decided “that the said negro fellow Battice should be sold and the purchase money applied to the purchase of another negro fellow under the same Trusts and with the same limitations restrictions and conditions as were applicable to the said Battice.” 

Battice was then sold for $880, as appraised by three “disinterested men,” and that amount was paid to John S. Andrews by William G. Martin and Lafayette S. Andrews for “the following property to wit the aforesaid negro man named Jim about thirty three years of age, whom I John S. Andrews trustee as aforesaid do warrant to be sound and well and a slave from birth up to the present time,” for the sole use of Ann Jane Way and her husband Moses W. Way. If they were to die without issue, then “said property shall revert to the said W.E.W. Quarterman his heirs and assigns in fee simple.” 

Second Document: Request by Ann J. Way and Moses W. Way for William G. Martin and Lafayette S. Quarterman to “sell and dispose of our negro man named Battice and purchase a negro man named Jim from Mr. John S. Andrews in his stead with the purchase money and continue the latter in your trust.” 

Third Document: Bill of Sale for purchase of Battice by W.E.W. Quarterman, dated January 19, 1856.  

Witnessed on January 19, 1856 by Thos G. Stacy and W.E.W. Quarterman, J.I.C.L.C. Recorded on February 8, 1856, by S.A. Fraser, Clerk.